The HOP association advocates for the repair bonus, an innovative tool that promotes a repair culture. Repairing our products is known to have positive environmental impacts.
We can save 15 million tons of CO₂ eq., according to the French Agency for Ecological Transition (Ademe), by extending product life time by an additional three years for all French households.
Unfortunately, fixing current devices still demands more effort and places a greater mental strain on individuals compared to buying new ones. According to the ADEME, only 10 per cent of electric and electronic equipment that is not under any guarantee period is repaired. Citizens seem to be eager to repair their goods, but give up before completing the process. Nearly 70 per cent of them do not repair their goods as they consider it’s too expensive, and many individuals also blame planned obsolescence as a contributing factor.
For HOP, this is why it is critical to ensure that the repair bonus scheme is particularly simple and accessible for consumers. Presently, individuals are unwilling to alter their habits, except for ethical reasons, since replacing a product with a new one is a straightforward, swift, and economical solution. The repair businesses’ economic incentives could come from focusing on increasing their visibility, revenues and attractiveness and ensuring customer loyalty.
How is the bonus scheme funded?
In 2020, the French Parliament passed the law against waste and for a circular economy (“loi anti-gaspillage pour une économie circulaire” or “loi AGEC”), which established the repair bonus. It entered into force in 2022. Producer responsibility organisations (PRO), under government leadership, are tasked with both funding and implementing this repair bonus. In France, producer responsibility organisations are private law companies owned by producers and distributors. These PROs are also responsible for waste prevention and end- of-life product management for items they sell, as part of their extended producer responsibility.
Funding for the repair bonus scheme comes from « repair funds », which are constituted by a portion of the eco-contributions paid to the PROs by the manufacturers.
How does the repair bonus work?
Customers receive an immediate discount on their repair bill when they visit an approved repair business. They don’t have anything to do. The process is entirely managed by the repair businesses, who ask for a refund of the bonus amount to the PRO responsible for their sector.
Repair is covered by a 3-month warranty.
Today, more than one hundred products are covered by the repair bonus scheme, ranging from toasters and computers, to skirts and saddles.
The PROs are responsible for labelling. The number of labels matches the number of PROs. However, HOP is strongly pushing for their standardisation.
The association is ensuring the labelling initiative is being implemented effectively and comprehensively. HOP, for example, is calling for a labelling process available to everyone, without any discrimination against independent repair small businesses, considering their extensive regional reach, specialized expertise, and potentially more competitive pricing.
Promoting a repair culture
Like many other actors, HOP – Halte à l’obsolescence programmée is promoting a repair culture. The association is standing up for the introduction of the repair bonus and the repairability and durability indexes in France and across Europe.
It also organises the National Repair Days (NRDs) in France. The NRDs take place in October during the International Repair Day. Every year, thousands of people are participating in more than 1,000 events across the country focusing on repair and durability.
More broadly, HOP is calling on policy-makers to align their efforts with a more systemic, prospective approach for advancing the circular economy. We must actively tackle other crucial challenges, such as providing training for repair businesses and ensuring maintenance awareness-raising in educational settings.
